Search - Circus Devils :: Harold Pig Memorial

The circus finally comes to town

George a Pletz | Central PA, USA | 01/08/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While I think the price Amazon is asking is abit steep, I was pleasantly suprised by this album. After Ringworm Interiors, an album throughly sabotaged by its need for a new idenity outside of GBV and the correspondence nature of its composition, I was unsure if I was even going to bother with a second outing. Boy, am I glad I did! With a voice as distinctive as Bob Pollard's, it is no simple feat to sever ties with GBV but I think they did a real good job of it. Playing up the psychotropic side of the GBV and running it through the postpunk history of Ohio TWICE, the devils found the winning mixture. Gritty and psychedelic (if you find Bob's GBV lyrics too obtuse this is doubly so),The Devils allow for some melody into the mix to powerful effect.Whereas Ringworm Interiors had me anxious to move onto the next track,Harold Pig left me transfixed with interest. You are never quite sure what is going to happen next and it's not a bad thing! The guitars and the keyboards actually fuse together as much as they fall apart! The Devils seem less afraid to fall into discernable rock song patterns. Don't expect Glad Girls, though. Take your favorite "out" rock Pollard moments and run it through a thick psycho-haze of a indie power trio As for the concept album conceit, it makes Mag Earwig seem obvious. I see little if any narrative thread to back this claim
It doesn't really matter here with songs so compelling and entertaining. This is no indie acid test of endurance but a mad scramble to follow the Devils' surreal muse to the other side.I suspect the band was all in the same room and, what a difference that makes! They seem very tight on this release.Admittedly, this may not be the best intro to Pollard's amazing talents. Still, I hope the next devils' album will be even better!"

What is this?

G. Hornbeek | Earth | 10/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the darkest psychadelic album I have ever heard. I am a big fan of Guided by Voices and I bought this the day it was released (via their website) and listened to it for a month straight. That was a few years ago. Havent played it since. For some reason today I really wanted to hear this album -- i put it on and I was amazed. I have heard what the concept of the album may be about but it really does not matter--its fantastic. It is dark, crrepy and crazy--and interesting! I am constantly searching out different music but I realized tonight that this album deserves the acclaim of CANs entire discography & Guided By Voices (the whole 40-member team) should be in the rock and roll hall of fame--like that would mean anything to them...

It really isnt music for the everyday--more like when the sun has gone down around Halloween-not to put a shallow spin on things. May I suggest Pinball Mars and Ringworm Interiors as well. Scary stuff--but very very good.

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